AND YOU He made alive, when you were dead by your trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1The man responsible for writing most of the New Testament in The Bible is the Apostle Paul, formerly called Saul of Tarsus. Saul was a devout Jew from a very prominent family of Jews. A well educated man that practiced his faith very zealously. He was a diligent keeper of the law and a defender of the Jewish faith and practice. He was known as a "Hebrew among Hebrews", and was personally responsible for the death and imprisonment of numerous followers of Jesus. Saul was committed to completely wiping out the Church as he believed that Christianity was the enemy of his own Jewish faith. But, something happened while Saul was on the road traveling to Damascus that completely transformed him and his entire life The account of Saul's transformation is told in Acts 22. You will find as you read this account that in spite of all of Saul's knowledge, position, religion, education, and zeal, on this day Saul learned that he too was dead in his sins, and required the Grace of God in order to ever be free.
Saul's conversion to Christ Jesus was very radical and complete. The Lord even changed Saul's name to Paul and made him an Apostle, which means one sent forth. The Apostle Paul became probably the number one promoter of Christianity, and gave his own life completely to Jesus. In I Corinthians 15:10 Paul says, "But by the Grace of God I am what I am," Paul came to count all that he had ever known or done as loss". Philippians 3 describes the things that Paul had formerly trusted in for acceptance in God's sight. Paul had once trusted in good works, nature and conduct, but learned that God's Grace is the only way.
Read Ephesians 2:8-9. You are saved by God's Grace through faith, not on the basis of your own merits or work, it's a gift from God. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that you can ever add to what Jesus did for you on the Cross. He died so that you might live. There was no other way, because you were dead in your sins. You could not meet God's standard of Holiness, so Jesus did it for you. Jesus became your substitute. He died in your place. He paid the full price for your sin, and then He arose from the dead. The last words that He spoke from the Cross that should have been yours were, "it... is... finished". On the road to Damascus Saul heard Jesus call his name, is He calling you today?
If you haven't already placed your trust in Jesus, and ask Him to forgive your sin... do so now, right where you are. Pray this... Lord God I know I am a sinner. But, I know you sent Jesus to die for my sin. I want to turn away from sin and follow you. I ask you to forgive me and come into my heart and take charge of my life. I accept you as my Lord and my Savior. Thank you for hearing my prayer and accepting me. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
God heard your prayer and welcomes you into the family. Get a Bible, begin to read in the Gospel of John. Ask God to guide you and show you the way. Ask Him to lead you to a good Bible based local church. Get involved with the church and begin your New Life in Jesus!
KLTJ,
Dennis
How to Know God
